Evaporative cooler



March 30, 1948. B. J. ZAPART ETAL EVAPORATIVE COOLER Filed Jan. 11, 1946 a I I I u u u I I I I u I IIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIII IN V EN TOR5.

Patented Mar. 30, 1948 EVAPORATIVE COOLER Bruno J. Zapart, Chicago,'lll., and Rudolph A. Mack, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application January 11, 1946, Serial No. 640,548

4 Claims. (01. 62-169) Reference is hereby made to our co-pending application for Refrigerating device filed August 24, 1945, Serial No. 612,426. In that application we have disclosed a device into which a liquid refrigerant is fed into a coil, wherein a degree of vacuum is maintained by the suction engendered by an engine, which ultimately cn sumes the refrigerant vapors created in the coil during the refrigerating process. We have disclosed in said application means for injecting air into the lower end of the coil to mix with the refrigerant therein to enhance its vaporization.

The invention disclosed in the present application has the same objects in view as that in the said co-pending application, namely the provision of a suitable mechanism, including a coil set intermediately of a source of refrigerant, such as gasoline tank, and an engine, such as an engine in an automobile, truck, locomotive, etc, into which the vapors engendered in the coil are sucked into and consumed, and wherein the engine due to its inherent property maintains a vacuum for sucking into the coil air to mix with the refrigerant therein for the purpose of bringing about vaporization of the refrigerant in the coil.

A still further object of the present invention is to pre-cool the air injected into the coil to bring about more efficient cooling of the coil.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a pipe substantially centrally of the coil, and running substantially throughout its entire length, through which air is sucked due to the operation of the engine, for pre-cooling the air as it leaves the pipe and is injected into the refrigerant for the purpose of mixing therewith, at the lower end of the coil.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a tank, in the device of the character hereinabove described, into which liquid refrigerant is fed from the source thereof and maintained in proper amount and level by suitable valve, with air supplying pipe connecting therewith for the purpose of permitting escape of fumes engendered in said tank due to the vaporization of the refrigerant therein, and feeding thereof together with air into the coil.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a refrigeration method wherein liquid refrigerant is maintained under vacuum to bring about the vaporization thereof, with air injected into the refrigerant to mix therewith for enhancing the vaporization thereof, and pre-cooling the air before its injection.

With the above general objects in View and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of the present device, on a vertical plane, diagrammatically showing the relative position thereof with respect to a source of refrigerant, such as gasoline tank in a motor vehicle and an engine thereof; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lower end of a refrigerating coil with the refrigerant supply pipe connecting therewith, and with an air pipe, the latter in elevation, in an operativeposition therewithin.

Referring in detail to the present drawing there is shown tank I, which may be a gasoline tank in a motor vehicle or similar conveyance, such as truck, locomotive, etc., and which tank constitutes the source of refrigerant in connection with the present device. Refrigerant supply pipe 2, connecting with the lower end of said tank l, passes through the bottom of refrigerant distribution tank 3, and within a suitable distance from the bottom of the latter tank connects with float valve 4 which is actuated by float 5. Said float 5 floats upon the surface of gasoline 5 or other suitable liquid refrigerant, such as benzene, kerosene or any other which is suitable for use as a motive source in an engine or fuel in a furnace. The gasoline, or other liquid refrigerant is supplied into said distribution tank 3 by means of said pipe 2, and spills itself into said tank through valve 4.

Connecting with the bottom of tank 3 is a re frigerant feeding pipe I, the opposite endof which is rigidly engaged, either threadedly or otherwise, by a reduced collar 8, integrally formed with coil pipe 9. Intermediately of its ends, said refrigerant feeding pipe 1 is provided with valve H), by means of which the amount of refrigerant supplied into coil 9 is regulated, or if desired the same may be completely shut off by closing the same.

Air feeding pipe H, which is of a diameter suitably smaller than that of coil 9 connects by one of its ends with the upper end of distribution tank 3 or with lid [2, as is shown, and enters coil 9 at its upper vertical end l3, as at M, and from that point is positioned substantially centrally of said coil 9, and coextensive with its length, except that at the lower end thereof it terminates short of collar 9. Thus, said pipe II is concentrically positioned with respect to coil 9, and in a spaced relation therewith. Intermediately of distribution'tank 3 and pipe 13 said air supply pipe I I is provided with bleeder valve l5 through which air is supplied into said pipe ll. Thelower end of coil 9 and pipe I l are at an incline, for the purpose which will be hereinafter stated.

Pipe l3 has check valve I6. Connecting with said pipe l3, which is the upper continuation of 4 closed, without afiecting the degree of vacuum in pipe I3 and coil 9 engendered therein during preceding cycle of the operation of the engine when the same was suificient to open valve Hi. When suction upon check valve [6 is sufilcient to open the same, the mixture of air and vapor gas generated in coil 9 and pipe 13 will be sucked in through said check valve l5 and into pipe ll, from which the same will pass into manifold l8 and then to engine to be utilized therein as a V 7 motive power along with the air and gas mixcoil 9, is pipe H, the latter connecting with manifold l8, and intermediately of carburetor l9 and engine 20. Through pipe 2|, the latter connecting with tank I and carburetor l9, gasoline is fed into carburetor l9. Mixture of air and gasoline vapors passes from carburetor i9 through manifold l8 into engine 20, where it is used as a motive power in the usualmanner. 7

Through lid 12 access may :be had into distributiontan'k '3 for regulating riioat valve 4.

'Coil B'may be enclosed within housing 2i, whichmay be provided with suitable openings through which cool :air may be blown-out by suitable means into the interior of arnotorvehicle, a'truck body, passenger or refrigerated freight car, or the like. If the device is used as a home refrigerating whichen'gineit may be substituted for a' ifu1'nace, wherein the refrigen ant'is burned for heating purposes, housing 2-! may'loethe walls tor the refrigerating unit.

"The bottom ofhousing 21 maybe provided with reservoir 22, within which water may collect,

' will periodically be brought to-a lower level for actuating float )valve 4, thereby renewing the supply of the gasoline in :said tank 3.

Due to the normal operation of engine 29,

furnace or other applianca vacuum is maintained in pipe l 1 andfin the upper end I 3 of coil 9, as well as {in coil 9, throug-h check valve 19. Due to said vacuum an amount of air is constantly sucked into coil .9 through pipe ii I, air leaving said pipe through its lower open end. The lower end of -coil9 is at an incline ior the purpose of enhancing the riseof air in coil 9 as it leaves said pipe H. Valve f5 permits the intake of air from the outside into said pipe H, and the amount of air taken may be regulated by regulating said valve 15. Any fumes gathering int-he upper end of tank 3 due to the normal vaporization of gasoline therein, escape through said pipe H by being sucked therein-to, together with the air through valve 125 by the vacuum engendered in pipe 13 and coil 9 through pipe 11 and manifold 19, by the action of engine 20.

Check valve 5 acts to maintain 'a compara-' tively uniform degree of vacuum in pipe 13 and coil 9. During variedcycles of the operation of engine 20 the degree 'o'f vacuumin manifold l8 andp'ipe H may vary{ During intervals in the operation of engine 2i0 'the degree of vacuum in pipe El 1 and manifold 18 may not be sufiicient to 'overcomevalve -16 tor openingthe' same. 7 Thus, during those intervals checkx valvelli remains ture from carburetor l9. 7

It will be seen that due to the fact that air refrigerant. 'During'the advanced stages-of the operation of the device the use of the pre-gcooled air adds; to the efiiciency of vaporization of the refrigerant in coil 9 in that itelim-inates mixing of air and refrigerant of extremely varied tem: peratures andnconsequent'too fast vaporization of the latter. i-

If tank I is positioned onthe same'level as coil 9,-so that refrigerant in coil 9 does not overflow beyond the upper end thereof, distribution tank 3 may be entirely eliminated. At least the latter will not be an essential elementof the device if thelevel of the refrigerant in tank coincides with the horizontal plane substantially with the upper end'of coil 9; -When distribution tank '3 is eliminated, in that'event supply pipe 2 may directlyconnect with collar, 8, as int-hat event feeding pipe 1 would be unnecessary.

It is further observed that lid i2 is closely fitted within the upper end of tank '3, thereby forming a seal therewith. Due to. the action of vacuum in coil 9 and pipe [3, vacuum vWill be maintained in tank 3"through said pipe I l. Therefore, when valve 4 is open the vacuum in tank 3 will suck gasoline into said tank 3 through pipe 2. the flow'of gasoline through valve 4 into tank :3 will be assured, regardless of the relative positions of tanks l and 3.

The lower end of'pipe H is tapered, as seen in the drawing, for facilitating entry of .air'therethrough ,"into coil '9.

It is understood that We do not desire to limit the refrigerant to gasoline :as' obviously other refrigerants, such as ammonia water may be used, andzsince ammonia water cannot be used as a motive power .for an engine, the vapors thereof,

after leaving. coil 9, may be consumed in a fur hace-whenenginefifl is substitued thereby. 7

While there is described herein a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to :be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What we claim as new is:

1.'.In combination with a source of liquid refrigerant and an appliance wherein the refrigerant is normally consumed when converted into gas, a helical refrigerating device comprising a refrigerating coil, a conduit connecting said source with the one end of said co'il,.said conduit being adapted to constantly supply the refrigerant to said coil as the same is used up, a second conduit connecting the, other end of said coil with'said appliance, the appliance inducing vacuum in said coil through said last named conduit for vaporizing the refrigerant in said coil, the generated vapor passing through said last named conduit into said appliance to be normally consumed therein, and an air pipe concentrically disposed Within said coil and having one end thereof connected with the atmosphere, said air pipe being in a spaced relation with said coil and substantially coextensive with the length thereof, the vacuum induced in said coil by said appliance sucking in air from the other end of said air pipe to inject the same into and to mix with the refrigerant in the said coil for enhancing vaporization thereof, the air passing through said air pipe becoming pre-cooled before the injection thereof into the refrigerant.

2. In combination with a source of liquid refrigerant and an appliance wherein the refrigerant is normally consumed when converted into gas, a refrigerating device comprising a refrigerating coil, a conduit connecting said source with the one end of said coil, said conduit being adapted to constantly supply the refrigerant to said coil as the same is used up, a, second conduit connecting the other end of said coil with said appliance, the appliance inducing vacuum in said coil through said last named conduit for vaporizing the refrigerant in said coil, the generated vapor passing through said last named conduit into said appliance to be normally consumed therein, an air pipe having one of its ends connected with the atmosphere and disposed substantially in a spaced relation with said coil and being substantially coextensive with the length thereof, the vacuum induced in said coil by said appliance sucking in air through the other end of said air pipe to inject the same into and to mix with the refrigerant in the said coil for enhancing vaporization thereof, the air passing through said pipe becoming pre-cooled before the injection thereof into the refrigerant, and an air intake valve disposed intermediate the ends of said air pipe.

3. In combination with a source of liquid refrigerant and an appliance wherein the refrigerant is normally consumed when converted into gas, a refrigerating device comprising a refrigerating coil, a tank, a conduit connecting said tank with said source, normally said conduit being closed, a feeding pipe connecting said tank with one end of said coil, a second conduit connecting the other end of said coil with said appliance, said appliance inducing vacuum in said coil through said last named conduit for vaporizing refrigerant in said coil, the vapor generated in said coil due to the vaporization of the refrigerant therein passing through said last named conduit into said appliance to be normally utilized therein, means periodically opening said first named conduit for renewing the refrigerant in said tank as the same is periodically consumed due to the vaporization thereof in said coil, and an air supplying pipe having an open end connecting with the atmosphere and entering said coil at the end adjacent the juncture of said second named conduit with said coil, said air supplying pipe being in a spaced relation with said coil and substantially coextensive with the length thereof, the vacuum, induced in said coil sucking in the air through the open end of said air supplying pipe and adjacent the other end of said coil for injecting the air into and mixing the same with the refrigerant in said coil for enhancing vaporization thereof, and means connecting said air supplying pipe adjacent its open end with said tank and above said refrigerant allowing the escape therethrough of any refrigerant vapors engendered therein.

4. In combination with a source of liquid refrigerant and an appliance wherein the refrigerant is normally consumed when converted into gas, a refrigerating device comprising a refrigerating coil, a tank, a conduit connecting said tank with said source, normally said conduit being closed, a feeding pipe connecting said tank with one end of said coil, a second conduit connecting the other end of said coil with said appliance, said appliance inducing vacuum in said coil through said last named conduit for vaporizing refrigerant in said coil, the vapor generated in said coil due to the vaporization of the refrigerant therein passing through said last named conduit into said appliance to be normally utilized therein, means periodically opening said first named conduit for renewing the refrigerant in said tank as the same is periodically consumed due to the vaporization thereof in said coil, an air supplying pipe disposed within said coil and having one of its ends connecting with the atmosphere said air supplying pipe being in a spaced relation with said coil and substantially coextensive with the length thereof, the vacuum induced in said coil being adapted to suck in the air through the other end of said air supplying pipe and adjacent the other end of said coil for injecting the air into and mixing the same with the refrigerant in said coil for enhancing vaporization thereof, and means connecting said air supplying pipe with said tank and above said refrigerant for allowing the escape therethrough of any refrigerant vapors engendered therein, and an air intake valve connecting with said air supplying pipe intermediate of said tank and said coil.

BRUNO J. ZAPART. RUDOLPH A. MACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,157,409 Helfrecht May 9, 1939 2,258,725 Wilkinson Oct. 14, 1941 

